California leads the comparison group by a clear margin, with a mean annual salary of $176,760 against the next closest state, New York, at $153,900. If you are recruiting nurse practitioners who are weighing offers across state lines, California's compensation expectations will typically set the ceiling. Budget accordingly if you want to remain competitive against out-of-state employers.
Nurse practitioner salary in California (2026)
In this article
The average nurse practitioner salary in California is $176,760 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $168,520 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. California employs 25,120 nurse practitioners, and the $8,240 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior nurse practitioners in California typically earn around $120,340, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the 90th percentile threshold of $240,830. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a nurse practitioner hire in California, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $168,520 |
Average Annual Salary | $176,760 |
vs. National Average | 28.7% above the national mean of $137,300 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 25,120 employed nurse practitioners across California.
See how Rippling handles payroll, benefits, and onboarding for your next registered nurse hire.
Nurse practitioner salary percentiles in California
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $120,340 |
25th Percentile | $145,980 |
75th Percentile | $209,350 |
90th Percentile | $240,830 |
When setting an offer for a nurse practitioner in California, expect to land somewhere between $145,980 and $209,350 for most mid-career candidates. Roles requiring specialized experience or leadership responsibilities can push compensation toward or beyond the 90th percentile of $240,830.
Nurse practitioner salary by city in California
City | Average Annual Salary |
San Jose | $225,610 |
San Francisco | $215,430 |
Sacramento | $177,260 |
San Diego | $164,870 |
Los Angeles | $163,610 |
Where you hire within California will have a meaningful impact on your compensation budget. San Jose averages $225,610 per year, while Los Angeles averages $163,610, a difference of $62,000 that should directly inform your location-based offer strategy. If you are hiring remotely or across multiple sites, build that geographic spread into your compensation bands from the start.
How California compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
California | $176,760 | $168,520 |
New York | $153,900 | $153,510 |
Washington | $152,180 | $156,100 |
Nevada | $137,410 | $140,670 |
Colorado | $132,540 | $132,930 |
Texas | $131,420 | $131,670 |
Employers hiring nurse practitioners in California should expect to pay materially more than peers in neighboring or comparable states. California's mean of $176,760 sits roughly $23,000 above New York's $153,900 and more than $45,000 above Texas's $131,420. If you are competing for candidates who have offers from multiple states, California's compensation expectations will set the high end of that conversation.
Frequently asked questions about nurse practitioner salary in California
How does California compare to other states for nurse practitioner salary?
What do the top-earning nurse practitioners make in California?
Nurse practitioners at the 90th percentile in California earn $240,830 per year. Senior specialists with advanced credentials or leadership responsibilities are the candidates most likely to command offers at or near that level. If you are filling a high-complexity or supervisory role, plan your budget to reach that range rather than anchoring to the statewide median.
What is the salary range for a nurse practitioner in California?
The full range runs from $120,340 at the 10th percentile to $240,830 at the 90th percentile. Most mid-career candidates will fall between the 25th percentile of $145,980 and the 75th percentile of $209,350. Use the seniority and specialization of your open role to decide where within that band your offer should land.
What is the average nurse practitioner salary in California?
The average nurse practitioner salary in California is $176,760 per year, which sits 28.7% above the national mean of $137,300. The median of $168,520 is a more grounded benchmark for most hiring decisions, since a smaller group of higher-compensated roles pulls the average upward. Start with the median when building your initial offer range, then adjust for specialization and experience.
Nurse Practitioner salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1171 (Nurse Practitioners).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
Author
The Rippling Team
Global HR, IT, and Finance know-how directly from the Rippling team.
Hubs
Explore more
Jul 7, 2026
|
3 min
Nurse practitioner salary in Texas (2026)
Nurse practitioner salaries in Texas average $131,420 per year. See pay by city, percentile, and how Texas compares to other states.
Jul 7, 2026
|
3 min
Nurse practitioner salary in Florida (2026)
Florida nurse practitioners earn $129,510 median annually. Compare salaries by city, percentile, and state to build competitive compensation offers.
Jul 7, 2026
|
3 min
Nurse practitioner salary in New York (2026)
Nurse practitioner salaries in New York average $153,900 per year. Compare pay by city, percentile, and state to set competitive offers.
Jun 29, 2026
|
2 min
Nurse practitioner salary in the US (2026)
Nurse practitioner salaries average $137,300 nationally. Compare pay by percentile and state to set competitive offers for your next NP hire.
Jul 7, 2026
|
3 min
Nurse practitioner salary in Colorado (2026)
Colorado nurse practitioner salaries average $132,540 per year. See median pay, city breakdowns, and percentile ranges to budget competitive NP offers.
Jul 7, 2026
|
3 min
Nurse practitioner salary in Arizona (2026)
Nurse practitioner salaries in Arizona range from $104,400 to $173,270. See median pay, city breakdowns, and how Arizona compares to neighboring states.
Jul 7, 2026
|
3 min
Nurse practitioner salary in Hawaii (2026)
Nurse practitioner salaries in Hawaii average $142,910, with pay ranging from $106,450 to $174,350. Use this data to budget and benchmark your next NP hire.
Aug 24, 2026
|
2 min
Data scientist salary in California (2026)
California data scientists earn a median $141,590 and up to $224,920. Compare salaries by city, percentile, and state to benchmark your next hire.
See Rippling in action
Increase savings, automate busy work, and make better decisions by managing HR, IT, and Finance in one place.